Hybrid audio system for eyewear devices

Abstract

An audio system for providing content to a user. The system includes a first and a second transducer assembly of a plurality of transducer assemblies, an acoustic sensor, and a controller. The first transducer assembly couples to a portion of an auricle of the user's ear and vibrates over a first range of frequencies based on a first set of audio instructions. The vibration causes the portion of the ear to create a first range of acoustic pressure waves. The second transducer assembly is configured to vibrate over a second range of frequencies to produce a second range of acoustic pressure waves based on a second set of audio instructions. The acoustic sensor detects acoustic pressure waves at an entrance of the ear. The controller generates the audio instructions based on audio content to be provided to the user and the detected acoustic pressure waves from the acoustic sensor.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An audio system comprising:
 a transducer capable of being connected with a pinna of an ear of a user for vibrating the pinna and causing the pinna to create airborne acoustic pressure waves at an entrance of an ear canal of the ear based on audio instructions; 
 an acoustic sensor capable of being connected with the pinna for monitoring a vibration of the pinna corresponding to the airborne acoustic pressure waves; and 
 a controller capable of updating the audio instructions for the transducer based at least in part on information about the monitored vibration received from the acoustic sensor. 
 
     
     
       2. The audio system of  claim 1 , wherein the transducer comprises a cartilage conduction transducer. 
     
     
       3. The audio system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 another transducer capable of vibrating to produce acoustic pressure waves different from the airborne acoustic pressure waves, based on one or more audio instructions from the controller. 
 
     
     
       4. The audio system of  claim 3 , wherein the other transducer comprises an air conduction transducer. 
     
     
       5. The audio system of  claim 3 , wherein the other transducer comprises a bone conduction transducer. 
     
     
       6. The audio system of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the transducer is further capable of vibrating the pinna over a first range of frequencies; and 
 the other transducer is further capable of vibrating over a second range of frequencies, the first range of frequencies having a lower frequency than a frequency of the second range of frequencies. 
 
     
     
       7. The audio system of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 an input interface capable of being coupled to the controller to provide a plurality of audio source options for presenting audio content to the user, the plurality of audio source options selected from a group including: the transducer, the other transducer, and a combination of the transducer and the other transducer, wherein 
 the controller is further capable of:
 receiving a selection of an audio source option of the plurality of audio source options; and 
 presenting audio content using the selected audio source option. 
 
 
     
     
       8. The audio system of  claim 1 , wherein the transducer is selected from a group consisting of a piezoelectric transducer and a moving coil transducer. 
     
     
       9. The audio system of  claim 1 , wherein the acoustic sensor is further capable of detecting the airborne acoustic pressure waves at the entrance of the ear canal. 
     
     
       10. The audio system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further capable of updating the audio instructions using a frequency response model that is based on a comparison of the airborne acoustic pressure waves to audio content for presentation to the user. 
     
     
       11. The audio system of  claim 1 , wherein the acoustic sensor comprises a vibration sensor. 
     
     
       12. The audio system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 another transducer capable of being coupled to a portion of a bone behind the ear for vibrating the bone based on one or more audio instructions from the controller. 
 
     
     
       13. The audio system of  claim 1 , wherein the audio system is a component of an eyewear device. 
     
     
       14. An audio system comprising:
 a first transducer capable of being connected with a pinna of an ear of a user for vibrating the pinna and causing the pinna to create airborne acoustic pressure waves at an entrance of an ear canal of the ear based on a first set of audio instructions; 
 an acoustic sensor capable of being connected with the pinna for monitoring a vibration of the pinna corresponding to the airborne acoustic pressure waves; 
 a second transducer capable of vibrating to produce acoustic pressure waves based on a second set of audio instructions; and 
 a controller capable of generating the first set of audio instructions and the second set of audio instructions such that the airborne acoustic pressure waves and the acoustic pressure waves form at least a portion of audio content for presentation to the user. 
 
     
     
       15. The audio system of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the first transducer comprises a cartilage conduction transducer; and 
 the second transducer comprises an air conduction transducer. 
 
     
     
       16. The audio system of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the first transducer comprises a cartilage conduction transducer; and 
 the second transducer comprises a bone conduction transducer. 
 
     
     
       17. The audio system of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the first transducer is further capable of vibrating the pinna over a first range of frequencies; and 
 the second transducer is further capable of vibrating over a second range of frequencies, the first range of frequencies having a lower frequency than a frequency of the second range of frequencies. 
 
     
     
       18. The audio system of  claim 14 , wherein the controller is further capable of updating the first set of audio instructions for the first transducer based at least in part on information about the monitored vibration received from the acoustic sensor. 
     
     
       19. The audio system of  claim 14 , wherein the acoustic sensor is further capable of at least one of: measuring the vibration that is a reflection of one of the airborne acoustic pressure waves at the entrance of the ear canal, and measuring the vibration created by the first transducer on the pinna. 
     
     
       20. An audio system comprising:
 a first transducer capable of being connected with a pinna of an ear of a user for vibrating the pinna and causing the pinna to create airborne acoustic pressure waves at an entrance of an ear canal of the ear based on a first set of audio instructions; 
 a second transducer capable of vibrating to produce acoustic pressure waves based on a second set of audio instructions; and 
 a controller capable of generating the first set of audio instructions and the second set of audio instructions such that the airborne acoustic pressure waves and the acoustic pressure waves form at least a portion of audio content for presentation to the user.